Container



March 17, 1942. 5. c. ERB 2,276,292

CONTAINER Filed NOV. 18, 1939 INVENTOR 2 v B L0.

ATTO EY Patented Mar. 17, 1942 CONTAINER George C. Erb, Forest Hills West, N. Y., assignor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application November 18, 1939, Serial No. 305,140

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to an improvement in tearing strip key opening sheet metal cans and more particularly refers to a multiple wall tearing strip formed in a folded wall of the can.

In certain respects, the invention constitutes a specific embodiment of one phase of the broad idea on multiple wall tearing strip containers disclosed and claimed in a companion United States patent application filed at the same time as the present case and bearing Serial Number 305,139.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a multiple wall tearing strip formed in a container, which is set off by score lines and wherein the multiple walls of the tearing strip extend to or project beyond the side seam as a single or a multiple wall tearing tongue.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a tearing or rip strip of increased strength formed in the folded or bent multiple wall section of a can body, being set off by score lines cut in adjacent walls of the folded body and which extends beyond the side seam in a novel perforated multiple wall tearing tongue for attachment of a simple hook-shaped key to open the can.

A further object of the invention is the pro- Vision of a multiple wall tearing strip formed in the body fold of a hermetically sealed sheet metal can, such a tearing strip having a perforation cut in the fold of the strip or having a suitable notch in one of the walls to facilitate venting and soldering of the multiple walls of the tearing strip and of the tearing tongue at the side seam.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tearing strip can embodying the present invention and illustrating the tearing strip formed with a tearing tongue extending from the folded side wall of the body;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the lines 22 in Fig. 1 and illustrating the folded tearing strip formed in the body fold of the can; and

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modified form of tearing strip which includes a perforated tearing tongue extending from the folded side wall and showing a hook-shaped key for engagement with the tongue to effect opening of the can.

As a preferred embodiment of the invention Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing illustrate a tearing stripcontainer comprising a tubular body II having its side edges secured together in a lock and lap or other appropriate side seam I2. The can body is closed by a top end I3, and a bottom end It, these can ends being secured to the respective ends of the body in the usual manner as by double seam end joints I5.

The can body II when in the blank and prior to being formed into a tubular body, is subjected to a scoring and folding operation. A parallel row of score lines I! and I8 are thus cut in the external side of the body blank parallel and adjacent one edge of the blank after which the body is folded or bent to provide a folded body section I9 (Fig. 2). This body section contains an inner wall part 2i, an intermediate wall part 22 and an outer wall part 23. The folded body section i9 is preferably pressed inwardly so as to retain a flush outside wall, as illustrated in the drawing. In this construction the outer wall 23 below the folded body section I9, is bent inwardly as at 24 and thence upwardly where it joins the inner wall part 2|. The outer wall part 23 which is above the bend 24, continues as a straight outside wall to the top double seam I5.

The folded or multiple wall tearing strip which is disclosed in Fig. 2 as being embodied in the folded wall section I9 of the can body, is designated by the numeral 25 and is set off by the score lines I! and I8, with the score I8 of the outer wall preferably located a slight distance above the score I'I cut in the intermediate wall. This form of construction prevents the inner wall fold of the tearing strip 25 from engaging under the outer wall part 23 while removing the folded tearing strip 25 from the can II.

The top member I3 (Fig. 2) is herein shown as formed with a countersunk panel 26 where it adjoins the top double seam I5. A double step cover type may be substituted in which case the body folded wall section I9 can be shortened as in such construction a second countersink is made, thus provided a stepped panel cover.

For the purpose of opening the can a tearing tongue 29 is provided and extends as an integral part from the folded tearing strip 25 and beyond the side seam joint I2. The tearing tongue 29 may be formed from a single wall of the extended tearing strip or it may be a multiple wall tongue produced by extending the folded tearing strip. For either type of tongue, however, the multiple wall tearing strip circumferentially encompasses the can body H and extends up to the side seam l 2 or beyond.

Figure 1 illustrates such a preferred form of tearing tongue 29 and shows it as extending from the intermediate wall part 22 of the folded body section IS. The outer wall part 23 is notched so as to provide a shorter reenforcing V-shaped tab 3| extending beyond the side seam joint. The integral parts 29 and 31 are also secured together by solder and are further soldered to the tearing strip at the side seam l2 to hermetically seal the can in this section. This reenforced tongue permits engagement with a regular slotted key 32 (Fig. 1) which is applied in the usual way to the single thickness tongue 29. Winding of the reenforced V-shaped tab 3| on the key and thereupon the folded tearing strip 25 effects opening of the can as the tearing strip, breaking along the score lines I! and I8, is wound on the opening key in the usual manner.

The key 32 (Fig. 1) is preferably spot welded at 33 to the top or cover end l3 of the can as outlined in the C. Stollberg, United States Patent No. 1,823,068 issued September 15, 1931.

Figure 3 of the drawing shows a modified form of multiple wall tearing strip having a different tongue extension. This figure shows a folded or multiple wall tearing strip 35 having a fully folded tearing tongue 36 extending beyond the side seam l2. This tongue has an elongated opening 31. This slotted opening in the tongue provides a suitable reception for a sharp pointed or hooked opening tool.

Such a tool may be a special shaped key 33 (Fig. 3) having a hooked part arranged to engage within the opening 31. By applying such a key removal of the tearing strip 35 may be easily accomplished either by winding the strip around the key shank or by pulling it out and ripping it clear from the container. A large loop or finger hold 39 will allow for either rolling off or pulling of the tearing strip 35. Key 38 may also be secured by spot welding to the cover l3 (Fig. 3) as at 4|.

It has been found that a single thickness of tearing tongue is the simplest form to solder and seal when it extends over and beyond the side seam joint of a can body. The folded tearing strip at the side seam requires the sealing together of the intermediate and outer wall parts 22 and 23 either with the single thickness or folded tongue. Where the outer fold is cut away at the side seam joint in the preferred embodiment (Fig. 1), of the single tongue, the resulting notch alongside of the tearing tongue at the side seam gives both venting and solder entrance for soldering of the side seam joint.

Figure 3 which illustrates the multiple wall or folded tearing tongue 36 as a continuation of the folded tearing strip 35, requires a vent opening 42 cut in the folded body section [9. Such an opening provides both for venting and for the proper entrance of the solder at this side seam juncture, while soldering the side seam [2. A hermetically sealed joint thus results.

By reason of the position of the outer score l8 (Fig. 2) being slightly above the inner score H, a smooth edge 43 results when the cover end I3 with the seamed part 23 of the body wall is released from the can by removal of either the tearing strip 25 of the preferred form or of the tearing strip 35 of the modified form. This removed part provides a satisfactory reclosure for the can, such reclosure cover being broadly designated by numeral 44, Fig. 2.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A sheet metal can comprising a tubular body having a soldered side seam, top and bottom ends secured to said body, and a multiple wall tearing strip formed in a folded wall of said body and extending beyond the said side seam in an engaging tongue which is cut away at the side seam to provide passage for the solder used in sealing the side seam parts together, said tearing strip being set oil by score lines which terminate in the side seam, the tearing strip being adapted for removal in opening the can.

2. A sheet metal can comprising a tubular body having a soldered side seam, top and bottom ends secured to said body, and a multiple wall tearing strip formed in a folded wall of said body and extending beyond the said side seam in a multiple wall engaging tongue, which is perforated at the side seam to provide passage for the solder used in sealing the side seam parts together, said tearing strip being set off by score lines which terminate in the side seam, the tearing strip being adapted for removal in opening the can.

3. A sheet metal can comprising a tubular body having a soldered side seam, top and bottom ends secured to said body, and a multiple wall tearing strip formed in a folded wall of said body and extending beyond the said side seam in a single wall key engaging tongue, which is notched at the side seam to provide passage for the solder used insealing the side seam parts together, said tearing strip being set off by score lines which terminate in the side seam, the tearing strip being adapted for removal in opening the can.

4. A sheet metal can comprising a tubular body having a soldered side seam, top and bottom ends secured to said body, said body having a wall folded upon itself adjacent said top end to provide a three wall thickness at the fold, and a double wall tearing strip formed in the outer and intermediate folds of said triple body wall and extending beyond the said side seam in a double wall engaging tongue which is'perforated at the side seam to provide passage for the solder used in sealing the side seam parts together, said tongue also having another opening for insertion of an opening key, said tearing strip being set off by score lines cut in said outer and intermediate folds and terminating in the sidev seam, the tearing strip being adapted for removal in opening the can.

GEORGE C. ERB. 

